Wheels for PJ

Hi, my name is Maureen and I am fundraising for my nephew, Peter (PJ) and his mother, my sister, Kathleen. On New Year's Eve 2020, just before midnight, PJ was in a terrible motorcycle accident in Florida, minutes from his apartment near the University of Tampa. He lost control and his bike left the road and struck a tree. My sister hopped the first flight down to Florida from Long Island, NY, only to be told she couldn't see her only child because of Covid restrictions. She was told PJ had broken many bones and suffered a traumatic brain injury. And she was told it was likely he would not survive the night. But he did survive that night, and the night after, and the night after. My sister had to wait 10 days to see her only child, never knowing if he would survive long enough for her to hold him, tell him he was loved, and that he was not alone. She spent days in the hospital even though they would not let her in, just in case something happened, believing that somehow, he would know she was near. Thankfully, she was eventually allowed to be by his side, though only 2x a week, as he underwent 9 surgeries and spent 6 weeks in the Florida hospital. Kathleen was able to take some FMLA time from her teaching job, while a GoFundMe was started so that she could fly PJ on an air ambulance back to NY, something that was not covered by insurance. Once back in NY, he entered inpatient rehab and spent the next 2 years in two different facilities, first in Glen Cove and then all the way out in Far Rockaway. Kathleen had no choice but to return to work, making the long drive from Levittown out to Far Rockaway 4-5 times a week to spend a few hours with him. During that time, PJ went from being almost completely immobilized and non-verbal, to moving all four limbs on his own and speaking. He could even still speak and understand Spanish, which he had learned while attending school in Florida! He was able to recognize family and tell us that he loved us. Though his speech was very garbled and his voice weak, it was more than we could have ever hoped for.

But his progress soon began to taper off and a decision was going to have to be made by my sister to either transfer him to a long-term care facility or bring him home and figure out how to care for him there. At only 22 years old, Kathleen felt strongly she couldn't leave her son in an institution, hours away from her, for the rest of what could still be a long life, only to be forgotten about, with no therapy, no real socialization, and no hope for further recovery. So, she made a decision. She took out loans, refinanced her mortgage, and renovated her home. She converted the garage into a handicap accessible living space for PJ and arranged 24-hour aides to care for him in the home, all while working full time. And after a long and grueling process, in March of 2023, PJ came home.

Since being home, PJ has progressed farther than anyone anticipated or expected. He can sit up on his own, is gaining strength in his extremities, can stand with assistance for brief periods, and his speech has improved tremendously. Being around family, friends, and his dog Alison, surrounded by his own things in his own home, was the best medicine she could possibly have offered him. But the challenges of such an arrangement are numerous, and there were many trials and tribulations still to come. Trying to work within "the system" has been an absolute nightmare for my sister. Finding qualified aides who can handle PJ's extensive needs, getting him to and from his therapies, dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and doctors, paying for the specialized equipment, fighting the courts for guardianship and the banks for closure on loans and student debts......I have no idea how Kathleen has managed this far, or how she continues to do so every single day. Nothing has been easy for her, no path has been made clear, and there is still no end in sight. It is one challenge, one roadblock, one tangled web of red sticky tape, after another. The only thing that has never once been in doubt, or even wavered in the slightest, has been the deep, unending, unrelenting, unconditional love that this woman has for her son. Her commitment to and faith in him is impossible to adequately put into words. But if you are not sure what a mother's love looks like, take a good look at this picture.

On to the request.......The one thing that would make the lives of both my sister and my nephew a bit easier, would be the ability to have their own transportation for PJ. Relying on agencies to provide transport for him is still the most unreliable and stressful parts of his moving home. His condition prevents him from being able to ride in a regular car. He has been unable to attend family functions, holidays, or gatherings anywhere outside the home, as Medicare will only pay to transport him to and from his doctors' appointments and day programs. If they had their own handicap accessible van, they would both have a freedom neither one of them has had in 3 years. The vans are costly, however, ranging anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000.

So many people have suggested to Kathleen that she start a GoFundMe to help pay for a van. But she is the kind of person that hates asking for help or accepting charity. She feels like she played that card to get him home from Florida and doesn't feel right asking again. So, I am doing it for her. This woman, who has the biggest heart and is the first in line whenever anyone she loves is in need, is the one who is in need now. If it is wrong to ask for money twice for the same person, then let me be the one who is wrong. Please give what you can and help this mom and her son gain the ability and freedom to do what we all get to do without a second thought. Help PJ have freedom to go to church, go to the store, go to the park, visit his Nana, and visit his family and friends. Your generosity and prayers can never fully be repaid but will also never be forgotten or wasted. Thank you and God Bless.

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